Black-winged Stilt chicks
Thrissur’s rain-soaked Kole wetlands came alive with birds, butterflies and dragonflies during a monsoon nature walk organised to familiarise participants with the region’s rich biodiversity and the breeding season of wetland birds.
The “Mazha Nadatham” (Rain Walk) was organised by the Kole Birders Collective in association with the Wetland Learning Centre and Binoculars. Around 18 participants, including students, homemakers and birdwatchers from different parts of the district, took part in the programme.
Spread across the Thrissur-Ponnani region, the Kole wetlands are among Kerala’s most important wetland landscapes and provide a vital habitat for a wide range of resident and migratory birds.
During the three-km walk, participants recorded more than 38 species of birds besides numerous dragonflies and butterflies.
“As it is the breeding season for waterbirds, we were able to observe chicks of several resident species. The sight of Black-winged Stilts with their young was particularly fascinating,” said Manoj Karingamadathil of the Kole Birders Collective.
The collective is undertaking further studies on bird species that breed in the Kole wetlands to better understand their nesting ecology and conservation requirements.
The organisers also announced that the wet-season survey for the second edition of the Kerala Bird Atlas in Thrissur district, part of the State’s flagship citizen-science initiative, will begin on July 15. Ahead of the survey, a workshop on bird survey methodology and technical aspects, along with a citizen scientists’ meet, was held to train volunteers and birdwatchers for the field exercise.
Published – July 05, 2026 08:10 pm IST
